Putting together your personal brand is easier than you think, but it takes vision, discipline, and consistency. Envisioning a personal brand for yourself is the first step! If you were running a business, you would build a strategic plan that is built around values, purpose, a vision, and strategies for achieving said vision. Why should the recipe be any different for ‘Brand You’?
The next step is to take inventory of what you have that supports your brand vision, what doesn’t, and what you need to develop. When envisioning a personal brand, consider your strengths, weaknesses, and what is in the realm of possibility. For example, I will never be six-foot-tall (185 meters) so I have stopped thinking of myself as having the potential for a late growth spurt. However, I do have a heart the size of a giant’s, so I work very hard at nurturing that strength.
In terms of developing the gaps in my ‘brand’, here is an example. 30+ years ago I got married, and on the evening of my wedding, I had to stand up and give a speech. At that moment, I would have rather had my marriage annulled than stand in front of a hundred people and speak to them. I vowed I would never feel that way again, so I started to think about being a speaker that would stand on stages all over the world in front of thousands of people and deliver valuable messages that change people’s lives and unlock their remarkable potential. 30+ years ago, that vision was so far removed from reality that it was laughable amongst my closest friends. With a clear vision of the ‘Brand of a Speaker’, thousands of hours of practice, and a burning passion, that is now a reality and a huge part of my brand. What you think about, you become. What’s in your thoughts?
Robert Murray is a Vancouver, BC based Business Strategy Consultant, partner at Incrementa Consulting Inc., #1 Best Selling Author, and International Keynote Speaker. For further advice, insight and inspiration on how to unlock your inner leader, follow Robert on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook.
Tags: Brand, Branding, Business Strategy, Personal Branding, Potential, Robert Murray, Robert S. Murray, Values, Vancouver BC, Vision
